Curtain-operating mechanism for automobiles



Feb 11, H30. E. BOLLENGER 1,746,458

CURTAIN OPERATING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed July 25, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb 11, H30, E. BOLLINGER CURTAIN OPERATING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed July 25, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 yer 6, 0,0; W:

Patented Feb. 11, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDWARD BOLLINGER, F WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS Application filed July 25,

This invention relates to a mechanism for raising and lowering the rear curtain of a closed automobile. In the operation of such machines, it frequently happens that the driver desires to lower the rear curtain when driving at night or to raise the same, which operations he is not able to perform without stopping the car and leaving the drivers seat.

It is the general object of my invention to provide mechanism by which the rear curtain can be raised or lowered as desired, said mechanism being under the control of the driver and being conveniently manipulated from the drivers position.

In the preferred form of my invention, I

have shown electrically operated mechanism for raising and lowering the curtain, with a reversible control switch positioned near the drivers seat.

A further object of my invention is to provide mechanism by which a curtain roller may be rotated a predetermined number of turns in either direction and by which such a roller will be automatically stopped after the predetermined number of revolutions.

I also preferably provide control mechanism by which the motor will be automatically thrown out of operation as soon as the switch is released by the operator.

My invention further relates to arrange ments and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawings in which Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic sectional side elevation of parts of an automobile, illustrating the general relation of the several parts of my'invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a portion of a curtain roller having my improvements embodied therein, together with diagrammatic control circuits;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional elevation, taken along theline 33 in Fig. .2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the operating mechanism within the curtain roller;

1927. Serial No. 208,238.

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation, taken along the line 55 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation, taken along the line 6-6 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a form of double pole switch adapted for use in connection with my invention;

F ig. 8 is a side elevation thereof, looking in the direction of the arrow 8 in Fig. 7;

' Fig. 9 is a sectional plan view of a bearing ang support for one end of the curtain roller; an

Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation, taken along the line 1010 in Fig. 9.

Referring to the drawings, I have shown my invention as applied to an automobile having a body 20 provided with a rear window 21 and having a curtain 22 mounted upon a roller 23 supported in bearings above the window. A small electric motor is mounted within the roller 23 and is connected by suitable wires to a double pole control switch 26 and to the usual battery 27. When the switch 26 is thrown in one direction, the roller is rotated to lower the curtain, and when the switch is thrown in the opposite direction, the roller is reversely rotated to rewind the curtain.

In Figs. 2 to 6, I have shown in detail one form of actuating mechanism for the curtain roller 23. The roller 23 has a head 30 (Fig. 2) having an internal hub portion 31 rotat able upon a tube or sleeve 32 held in fixed position in a bracket 33 secured to a suitable portion of the frame-work of the body 20.

A small electric motor is mounted within the roller 23, said motor having a frame consisting of side pieces 36 and 37 extending longitudinally within the roller and a connecting end portion 38 fixed on the inner end of the tube or sleeve 32. At the opposite end the side pieces 36 and 37 are connected by a cross piece 39 which provides one end bearing for the armature 40.

The armature is provided with the usual winding 41 and commutator segments 42, and rotates freely between the side pieces 36 and 37 which constitute the pole pieces or fields of the motor. A magnet coil 44 is mounted between the side pieces 36 and 37, and contact members or brushes are mounted on an additional cross piece 46 which also provides a second end bearing for the armature 40. The brushes or contact members 45 are insulated from each other and from the cross piece 46 and are provided with clamping screws 47 for wires 48 and 49, by which they are connected to the blades or sides of the movable member of the switch 26.

t The magnet coil 44 is similarly connected by wires 50 and 51 to the terminals 52 of the switch 26 and to one pole of the battery B. The other pole of the battery is connected by a wire 54 to a terminal 55 of the switch 26, and the terminals 52 and 55 are cross-connected to additional terminals 56 and 57.

With these connections, when the switch is thrown to connect the wires 48 and 49 to the terminals 55 and 52 respectively, the armature 40 will be rotated in one direction, while connection of the wires 48 and 49 to the terminals 57 and 56 will cause the armature to rotate in the opposite direction.

In Figs. 7 and 8 I have indicated a type of double pole switch which is particularly adapted for use with my invention, as the rocker members 60" are normally held in raised position by a spring 61 which immediately opens the switch and renders the motor inoperative as soon as the pressure on one or the other of the members 60' is released, the-normal position of the parts being such that all circuits are open.

It will be noted that the motor frame, comprising the parts 36, 37, 38, 39 and 46, as well as the brushes 45 and the coil 44 are all supported upon the fixed tube or sleeve 32, so that-they do not rotate but remain in fixed position within the curtain roller. The wires 48, 49, 50 and 51 may be brought out through the opening in the tube or sleeve 32.

The axle 64 of the armature 40 extends outward through the bearing 39 and is loosely centered in an internal gear 65, mounted within the roller 23 and secured thereto for rotation therewith. A pinion 66 on the axle 64 engages an idle gear 67 on the fixed bearing member 39, which in turn meshes with the internal gear 65. As the armature 40 rotates, the pinion 66 will act through the idle gear 67 to rotate the internal gear 65, at the same time rotating the roller 23 therewith. In this manner rotation of the armature 40 in either direction results in a corresponding rotation of the roller 23, raising or lowering I the curtain 22.

The 0 posite end of the curtain roller 23 is provide with a screw stud 70 (Fig. 9) threaded in a nut 71 loosely held within a noncircular opening 72 in a bracket 73 secured to the frame of the body 20. The opening 72 is-partially closed at one end by inwardly projecting flanges 74 and is provided with a stop screw 75 threaded into the bracket 73.

When the roller 23 is rotated is one d rection, the 'nut 71 will be caused to travel to the left as viewed in Fig. 9 until it engages the stop screw 75, and when rotated in the opposite direction it will travel to the right until it engages the flanges 74.

By such engagements, the exact amount of rotation of the roller 23 may be accurately predetermined, as the rotation of the roller will necessarily stop whenever the nut 71 engages the adjustable stop screw 75 or the flanges 74. By setting the screw 75 the correct distance from the flanges 74, the travel of the nut 71 may be made to correspond exactly to the desired number of turns of the curtain roller 23.

Having described the details of construction of my improved curtain operating mechanism, the use and advantages thereof will be readily apparent. If the curtain is raised and the driver desires to lower the same, he merely presses the rocker member 60 marked Down, closing the circuit through the terminals 52 and 55 and causing the motor to rotate in a direction to lower the curtain. After momentary depression of the switch, he releases the same, causing the motor to stop and the curtain to remain lowered until he depresses the rocker member 60 marked Up, closing the circuit through the terminals 56 and 57 and causing the motor to rotate in the opposite direction to raise the curtain. The extent of movement in both directi7ons is determined by the travel of the nut 1.

ily lower or raise the curtain without stopa ping the car orleaving the drivers seat, which is a matter of great convenience for night driving, particularly when the rear portion of the car is not occupied.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I claim is: v

1. In an automobile having a seat and a window remote therefrom, the combination with a curtain for said window, of curtain operating mechanism comprising a curtain roller, an electric motor mounted therewithin to operate the same, a control switch for said motor easily accessible from said seat, and means to limit the rotation of said roller.

2. In an automobile having a seat and a window remote therefrom, the combination with a curtain for said window, of curtain .operating mechanism, comprising a curtain roller, a reversible electric motor mounted in said roller and connected to operate the same, a double-throw control switch for said motor easily accessible from said seat, means to limit the rotation of said roller in both directions, and means to vary the limitation of window remote therefrom, the combination with a curtain for said window, of curtain operating mechanism comprising a curtain roller, an electric motor closely associated therewith and connected to operate said roller, said roller having a threaded axle at one end, a control switch for said motor easily accessible from said seat in said automobile, a nut threaded on said axle, means to prevent rotation of said nut, and means to limit the travel thereof in both directions, one of said means being adapted to vary said limit of travel, whereby the extent of rotation of said roller may be predetermined.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto aflixed my signature.

EDWARD BOLLINGER. 

